Down 14 in the third period, things didn’t look very good for the Alliance’s boys basketball team Tuesday night in a home contest against Torrington. A 14 to 0 run by the hosts would then tie the battle and eventually the Dogs held on for a 59 to 57 victory. Junior Braeden Clarke was the top scorer for the hosts with 21 points, getting 9 tallies in the final period. Alliance had a nice scorebook with nine players getting into the scoring column. In the JV affair, the Bulldogs defeated the Blazers 58 to 28 in a game played at the middle school. AHS’s varsity squad improved to 3 and 2 on the year. The Trailblazers were strong from the tip and led 36 to 25 at half before the big Dog comeback.
Action started with the guests taking control. The visitors from Wyoming roared to a 13 to 4 lead after 4 minutes of play. A three point play Alliance’s Jaden Guerra and a free throw by Devonte Taylor would account for the Bulldog points. Down 9, two free throws by Espen Lanik got the Dogs close but a three by the guests made it a 16 to 6 ball game. In the closing stages of the first, AHS got tallies by Clarke and Guerra to keep in striking range. Unfortunately, a trey by Torrington ended the scoring in the period with the Dogs down 20 to 9.
Both teams scored 16 points in the second. After a hoop by Lanik, the Dogs got 4 points in a row by Nason Thompson and a Clarke 2 to make it a 29 to 17 battle. Play remained even midway through the half with AHS getting tallies from Clarke and Lexton Salcido. Down by 15 after a three by the visitors, the Dogs finished the quarter with baskets by Clarke and Creighton Fritzler. After 2 periods of play, the Blazers were up 36 to 25.
Defense keyed the Bulldog rally. Alliance held the Trailblazers to just 5 points in the third while scoring 14. A Torrington three began the scoring. It was followed by a Lanik deuce. After another hoop by the guests, the Dogs started a big spurt. It was started with a three by Devin Graham at the 4 minute mark. Alliance then got tallies by Clarke, Riley Best, and Graham to get close. The period came to a close with a three point play by Clarke and the Dogs down by just 2 at 41 to 39.
A hoop by Clarke started the fourth with the contest being tied at 41. Torrington answered with a pair of threes to retake the lead. Best nailed a three for the Dogs plus a deuce as the action intensified. A two by Taylor ensued as the hosts pulled to within one. The squads then traded scores with Alliance getting points by Clarke. A trey by Clarke was next that put the hosts ahead by 1. Hoops by Salcido and Lanik kept the Dogs in front. At the 2 minute mark, another bucket by Clarke put Alliance up by 6. The Blazers fought back with 4 straight to get within 2. After a Bulldog turnover, the guests had one last shot for the win. It was no good as the hosts held on for the 2 point win.
TOR 20 16 5 16 57
ALL 9 16 14 20 59
Scoring Lanik 8 Clarke 21 Taylor 3 Fritzler 2 Graham 5 Guerra 5 Salcido 4 Thompson 4 Best 7
Road trips to Chadron On Friday and Sidney on Monday are the next games for the Dogs.